Páramos

Páramos are high-altitude neotropical wetland ecosystems that cover the northern region of the Andes. They have very high biodiversity and are rich in endemism but are ecologically fragile. The páramo has the richest high-mountain flora in the world (Luteyn, 1999).

Páramos are located between the upper forest limit (around 3,500 m altitude) and the mountain glaciers (approximately 5,000 m.a.s.l.). Although it is a remote and desolate area with little human activity, this ecosystem provides an important socioeconomic function, with its soils being used for agriculture and livestock farming, but most importantly, as the main source of water for the Andean community.

The Tropical Andes páramos cover over 2,500,000 km² and supply water to a population of about 85 million people in cities like Bogotá, Quito, Cuenca, among others.